It is that time of the year again – SALA – when we celebrate the South Australian Living Artists and this year it is for the 15^th time.  How time flies!

This Acrylic on Canvas Naive painting called ” SURFIN ‘N’ SA” is one of 3 artworks in the Sala Exhibition.

Sala an idea which grew from a seed planted by Paul Greenaway who thought we celebrated the dead artists at the detriment of the living and I couldn’t agree more.  Sala is a showcase for us artists that are not dead yet and that is a club I want to belong to!

This year there are 3,453 participating visual artists exhibiting in 520 diverse ranges of venues.  You will of course find art in Art Galleries, studios, public spaces, cellar doors, movie theater foyers, cafes and restaurants around the whole of our state.

ART TRAIL

However did you also realize that down in Glenelg they are presenting an inspirational art trail that offers a visual feast to stimulate the senses.  Jetty Road in Glenelg has totally embraced the Sala concept and nearly every business on this road has artists work on display.  This means that when you come to the bay you will also see art in hairdressing salons, chemists, ice cream shops, clothes boutiques, real estate agents, shoe shops and jewellers, yes all kinds of business have gotten behind the art here at the bay.

I feel very lucky to have lived where art is appreciated and embraced, for a long time it was in the mid-north town of Balaklava and now by the sea.

This year I have been too busy with overseas exhibitions in Europe, painting for ArtnBed and Giclee Link and various commissions so I am not having a solo show.   Instead I am exhibiting with talented artists living in and around the bay.  This mixed exhibition was held at;

The Bay Discovery Centre

Glenelg Town Hall

Moseley Square, Glenelg

Open daily 10am-4pm

(81799508)

3-26 August 2012

ART AT THE BAY

The theme explored is Play at the Bay with over 20 artists taking part including Clint Habib, Cat Leonard, Dave Archer, John Hamilton, Margo Miles and Sue McKenzie.

Sue McKenzie is an artist who is doing interesting work collecting discarded furniture from the roadside which she paints in bright bold colors.  “One woman’s trash is another woman’s treasure” says Sue.  Sue’s work is also on display at the Better Health Midnight Pharmacies.

Another artist with two separate exhibitions for Sala is Sarah Philip her abstract work inspired by the ocean can be found on Jetty Road, Brighton in the Enuf Burger Bar as well as her stunning works of beautiful people which are my favorites showing at Westfield Marion – Events Cinema.

Here is a quote that I think we should all live by from William W. Purkey;

“You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching,
Love like you’ll never be hurt,
Sing like there’s nobody listening,
And live like it’s heaven on earth.”

Till next time happy painting and sculpting to you all,

Love Marie xxxx

Why not come and have a look at Marie Jonsson-Harrison’s PAINTINGS FOR SALE, GICLEE PRINTS FOR SALE and SCULPTURES for sale or WALLBASED SCULPTURES.  Enjoy an original artwork on your walls or perhaps one on your bed ARTnBED.

Alf Traeger, “Wiring the shed to the farm house seemed a natural step to take for an inventive ten year old boy living on a farm opposite the Dalkey cemetery.  He never dreamed that these early tinkering would be so vital to a nation.  By 1927 Alf Traegar had invented the pedal wireless, enabling isolated outback Australians to communicate; making the flying Doctor a reality and educating thousands of youngsters through the School of the Air.”

The above paragraph is what is written on a plaque next to this ceramic and mosaic panel which is part of the Centenary of Federation Gateway Sculpture situated in Balaklava, South Australia.  If you would like to recap and see & read more about this sculpture use these links for the art blogs; “Stories behind the Wall”. & “Volunteers our backbone “

ARTISTIC VISION

According to Alf Traeger’s stepdaughter Glenda Shepherd who still lives in Balaklava where Alf grew up, after moving there from Victoria.  He was very interested from an early age in anything mechanical and surprised the whole family by building a telephone line from his house to a shed on the property some fifty meters away, at that time 1907 he was only twelve.  He had used a pitchfork as a magnet for the telephone, the diaphragms were the tops of tobacco tins and to make the microphone carbon granules he used pieces of charcoal from the stove.   Alf went on to do a mechanical & electrical engineering course and set up a small electrical business making generators and radio transmitters.  In 1925 Alf met Padre John Flynn who traveled extensively in the outback of Australia and his dream was to be able to bring medical help where ever it was needed.  His vision was a communication system that would be able to bring “Flying Doctors” to the outback.  So Alf started working on this idea and after thee years of experimenting Alf was able to produce the “Pedal Wireless”.

PEDDLING ARTIST

I was actually very fortunate to have tried out this contraption myself many years ago.  You see very close friends of ours Bill & Lorna Wilson who at one stage were the largest landowners in the Southern Hemisphere had the “Pedal Wireless” both at Frome Downs Station and Werocata in Balaklava.  The original one was battery driven but that proved costly and unreliable so therefore the pedals from a bicycle was added.  So you could sit on this contraption and peddle with the legs and the hands could tap out the message by Morse code.  Alf set up a “mother station” in Cloncurry and then installed 6 smaller “baby sets” in cattle stations and at Birdsville Hospital.  The first message was from Augustus Downs station some 300 km away but the “pedal wireless” could send and receive messages at least 800 km away.

As the Morse code was a bit tedious Alf designed a keyboard in 1931 and later it was replaced by voice.  Now the isolated people of the outback were able to reach out for help and receive a diagnosis to their ailments and immediate instruction in first aid if that was needed.

THE ART OF THE FLYING DOCTOR

From this initiative Alf was able to help John Flynn with the first Flying Doctor service called Aerial Medical Service which started in 1928 came into its own with the “pedal wireless” in 1929 and slowly found its feet.  Qantas supplied  them  with their first aircraft and in 1942 the service changed its name to the Flying Doctors Service, later on in 1955 added the Royal to the name; Royal Flying Doctors Service.

The “Pedal Wireless” also was instrumental in facilitating the long distance learning the kids of the outback enjoyed with School of the Air which started in 1951.  This meant that the school age children did not have to go away to boarding school but could be taught by teachers from far away.

So thank you very much Alfred Traeger, you did good!

So here is a quote I think fits well here by Georg Christoph Lichtenberg;

“Everyone is a genius at least once a year.  The real geniuses simply have their bright Ideas closer together”

Till next time happy painting and sculpting to you all,

Love Marie xxx   (c)

Why not come and have a look at Marie Jonsson-Harrison’s PAINTINGS FOR SALE, GICLEE PRINTS FOR SALE and SCULPTURES for sale or WALLBASED SCULPTURES.  Enjoy an original artwork on your walls or perhaps one on your bed ARTnBED.

These images are from “The Centenary of Federation Gateway” sculpture which was commissioned by the Wakefield Regional Council and took some 18 months to complete.   It started as a seed planted by Dale Gathercole and grew into an amazing community project.

Prior to this I had been awarded a mentor-ship grant jointly by the Australia Council, Arts S.A. and the South Australian Arts Trust (Country Arts SA) in 1999 to pursue the idea of turning my colorful naive paintings into public sculptures.  My mentor was artist Andrew Stock and the idea was to explore the ideas surrounding the use of colorful mosaics and combining that with clay (ceramic) figures.

As the Centenary of Federation celebrations date was looming Dale, the Headmaster at Balaklava Primary School, thought it would be a great idea to mark that in some way in our community with a permanent landmark.    As a friend and a fan of my work, she had watched me transform my art from canvas to sculpture and approached me with the idea of doing a public sculpture.

PLANNING A PUBLIC SCULPTURE

This then led to letting my imagination soar and conceptualizing, developing and planning ideas whereby my husband Bryan’s knowledge as a former builder and draughtsman was invaluable.   Robert Veitch from the Wakefield Council was then approached and after presenting drafts, models and detailed budget requirements he whole heartily endorsed the idea and got the council behind it.  The project was also helped along the way by Dale’s tenacity of chasing grants, and as a result we received several grants by the Centenary of Federation Committee & Country Arts SA & Veterans Affairs as well as many hundreds of “in kind hours” generously donated by the whole town.

THE CENTENARY OF FEDERATION GATEWAY PUBLIC SCULPTURE

The sculpture was officially opened on the 23^rd November 2001 by Neil Andrew MP, Member for Wakefield following a community celebration in Balaklava, South Australia.  The Centenary of Federation Gateway stands proudly as you enter into the township and is believed to be the largest Naive Sculpture in the Southern Hemisphere spanning 44 meters across.  The idea is that the whole sculpture looks like a Federation house, complete with roof and a veranda.  So in the center are two six meter by three and a half meter walls, located at 22.2 degree angle to each other which are rendered to look like sandstone with red brick quoins on the corners and around the doors.

One wall represents 1901 and the other 2001.  In the 1901 doorway we see the back of a life-size woman, made from hand-made ceramic tiles and mosaic, strutting through the door in all her finery, long dress, hat and umbrella in hand.  Through the 2001 doorway, she emerges as the modern woman, complete with short skirt, sunglasses and a mobile phone.  This reflects the changes that our society has undergone during the last 100 years.

CERAMIC AND MOSAIC

The 1901 wall depict 9 separate stories and the 2001 wall tells another 8 stories of both ordinary and famous people who have connections with our district.  Their tales are told in pictures and words with my hand-made ceramic tiles surrounded by mosaic and the words by Dale which has been etched on aluminium plaques.  These are rendered into the wall to allow the sandstone to surround each story.   Dale who was the Project co-ordinator also compiled the book “Stories behind the wall” which was also launched on the same day by John Meier MP, Member for Goyder. (Which I have used to jog my memory on the events too!)

There are of course many stories to tell you about the making of this project and I will do that as time goes on I promise!  Use this link if you want to see some of my other Public Sculptures.

Here is a quote I like that fits well here by Daniella Kessler,

“You can do anything if you put your mind to it… and you will succeed when you put your heart into it.”

Till next time happy painting and sculpting to you all,

Love Marie xxx  (c)

Why not come and have a look at Marie Jonsson-Harrison’s PAINTINGS FOR SALE, GICLEE PRINTS FOR SALE and SCULPTURES for sale or WALLBASED SCULPTURES.  Enjoy an original artwork on your walls or perhaps one on your bed ARTnBED.

I know some people think that all that matters happens in the big smoke, but as someone who has lived in the country for over 20 years I can assure you that is not the case.  Take the local newspaper for instance The Plains Producer situated in Balaklava which has thrived serving the local district. Current circulation is 2,500 with more than 7,000 readers, spanning an area as far as Virginia in the south, to Snowtown in the north, although the paper is for sale much farther and wider than that. (They also these days publish a free monthly newspaper, Two Wells Echo).

The Plains Producer was founded in 1903 under a different name and then had several reincarnations before finally being taken over by Roger Manuel in 1983.  His wife Margaret took over in 1995 after the sad passing of Roger and did a fantastic job and now their son Andrew is continuing in their footsteps with the same passion and vigor.

ACRYLIC PAINTING

However it is the present Editor of the Plains Producer Terry Williams that I would like to tell you about – you see he and another Terry (a tale for another day) was my inspiration for this acrylic painting “Terry Tomcat”.   Although Terry says he is more of a Paco Rabanne or Yves St Laurent type of guy!!

ARTISTIC WRITING

So Terry and I go back in the “day” to when newspapers were constructed in huge rooms full of desks overflowing with note books, papers, photos, pens and coffee mugs.  Where reporters, photographers and passersby mingled, argued and swore.  Before the political correctness was even thought off and cigarettes was firmly held in mouths as the clatter of typewriters filled the rooms and of course it goes without saying that at knock off time there were a few beers to be had at the local pub too.   You see Terry is one hell of a “newspaperman” one of those guys that gets right into a story and builds a narrative and also calls a spade a spade when ” it” is one, lol.   He has the knack of telling it how it is, in an everyday fashion which is very appealing.

THE ART OF THE FEATURES EDITOR

He has worn many hats over the years starting out as a copyboy in 1968 with the News Limited and going up through the ranks to Features Editor.   In 1983 Terry and his gorgeous wife Lee (and she still is today) had their first “tree change” leaving Glengowrie where Terry was born and raised and together with Lee’s sister Tania bought the lease of the Terminus Hotel in Balaklava, which they ran for 3 years.  Once a newspaperman always a newspaperman I recon, as they returned to Adelaide and bought a couple of news agencies (one of them was the big one Read All About it, at the Myer Centre).  Terry divided his time between the businesses and the Sunday Mail, being lured back there by the then editor Rex Jory, before becoming the assistant Editor of the News in 1990.

THE COLOR COPY

Terry says his highlights from those days were helping bring color to newspapers in the early 90’s, redesigning the look of The News and at the same time working as assistant editor. Fulfilling the job of Sporting Editor of the News – with a stint as Sporting Editor at the Brisbane Sun during the Commonwealth Games of 1982 and also working as a Chief of Staff at the Sunday Mail.  However it is when you read between the lines of what Terry says that you find out where his highlights really lie – it’s not the career achievements (and as you see there has been a lot) that matters to him.  It is the people that have crossed his path and the ones that walked with him along the way that really matters (see below the long list of names he mentioned).  So I understand now why I always like to read what he writes – he is a passionate man with a warm heart and a way with words!

I said to Terry just recently that sometimes I wonder why you tucked yourself away in the country, when the whole world could have been your oyster.  His answer was; that he is back here through a range of circumstances, culminating in coming back to help out two days a week while Roger Manuel became ill.  That arrangement was in place from 92-98 when Margaret Manuel took over until she retired and then Andrew (son) took over the helm.

ARTISTIC AWARDS

Terry was appointed the part-time Administration Officer of the Country Press Association of SA (organizing all SA country papers)all this whilst still also running his news agencies too, followed by a year of being the Editor of another country paper the Bunyip, so there was a lot of driving involved.   As it happened he was then again offered the job as the Editor of the Plains Producer in early 2005 and the “tree change” back to Balaklava was set in motion.  The Plains Producer won BankSA Best newspaper award (circulation under 5,000) in 96, 99,00,08,09 and Terry won an individual award in 2009 for Best Editorial writing for his columns.  Terry is turning 60 this year and admits to thinking about fishing a little more often in the future and who could blame him for that, although I’m not that sure – once a newspaperman always a newspaperman!

So here is a quote I think fits well here by Earl Warren;

“I always turn to the sports section first.  The sports section records people’s accomplishments; the front page nothing but man’s failures.”

Till next time happy painting and sculpting and writing to you all,

Love Marie xxx   (c)

Footnote;

Here is a list of some of the people that Terry worked with and highly admired.  “Great journalists  like  Rex Jory and Tony Baker, editors like Ron Boland, Kerry Sullivan, Peter Wylie, (now chairman of Advertiser newspapers) John Hartigan (was editor of the Daily Sun in Brisbane – now Chairman and CEO of News Limited in Australia), Roger Holden (was the last owner of The News when it closed in 1992 – March, coming up to 20 years next year!). But also great mentors like the brilliant football writer Lawrie Jervis, – a doyen of sports writers but also a great reporter of politics and more – Marty Ryan, a great sub-editor, Alan Shiell, one of the best sports writers, Murray Nicoll, brilliant reporter, Geoff Jones, Doug Steele and Mike Quirk, all top Chiefs of Staff at The News and journalists who knew their craft and took so many young journalists under their wing (many of the names you see in the national media today were helped by these people at The News), photographers like  Ray Titus (just retired), Bert Stansbury, Ian Coventry, Michael Conry, Ray Grimmond, Dennis Rogers … and many more”.

Why not come and have a look at Marie Jonsson-Harrison’s PAINTINGS FOR SALE, GICLEE PRINTS FOR SALEand SCULPTURES for sale or WALLBASED SCULPTURES.  Enjoy an original artwork on your walls or perhaps one on your bed ARTnBED.

I first met Shamus Liptrot when my daughter was in primary school and he was one of those kids who you instantly liked, he had a big cheeky grin, bubbly personality, always really polite and friendly and full of fun, well regarded by teachers, parents and the other children.  In fact I have never heard a bad word said about him, ever.

If there was something going on and some fun to be had Shamus would be there, if a photo was taken he would rush in at the last moment and with a cheeky grin steal the show!

Shamus was an all rounder, great academically, during school games and races, playing basketball – yes good at all sports whether in a team or trying to better his personal best in Little Athletics.

When it came to swimming in primary school Shamus was of course in the top group – deep end, so it was my privilege to have both him and my daughter Hillivi in my group as I taught swimming during the summer months.  Shamus would be first across the pool and looking up at me waiting for the next instruction and goes without saying that he came away with lots of ribbons and medals from his swimming efforts as well.

ART ON A BIKE

It therefore was no surprise to any of us when we started to see Shamus and his dad riding on racing bikes around Balaklava and Halbury and of course he took to that like a duck to water.  It was only a matter of time before he got noticed as a new young talent by the powers that be and was offered a Scholarship by the South Australian Sports Institute, where he rode for Team O’grady.

However it was in December 2007 during the Devonport Carnival in Tasmania when the unthinkable happened and Shamus was catapulted into the air, over a fence and into a light pole.  I think the whole of the Mid North held their breath collectively until we found out that he was off the critical list.

Then came months and months of rehabilitation whereby Shamus’ only form of communication was by blinking then progressing to writing on a board and finally learning to talk and walk and best of all getting back on that bike – as yet only a stationary one.

DETERMINATION AS AN ART

What was so remarkable about Shamus was he never lost that determination, spirit and optimism during this whole ordeal.  Instead he would rise at 5.30 and ride the exercise bike for an hour, followed by exercises on a mat, attend school and do homework and then back on the bike before bed.

It was only in the last 2 months that he was able transfer himself unaided from the walking frame to that bike, a major achievement.  Although as you know by now Shamus was used to achievements and since his accident he not only achieved 2 merit awards in 2 subjects in year 12, but also received the local BAC award for Youth Achievement on Australia day and the Ronald McDonald House Charities awarded him the Charlie Bell Scholarship of $5,000 as well as an all expenses paid trip to New Zealand.

Of course a lot of the credit for raising this incredible human being needs to be directed towards his fabulous parents Patricia and Malcolm Liptrot, for I have never seen two more loving or dedicated parents ever.  Shamus was their only child and they dropped everything in their own lives to spend the last 3 and a half years constantly by his side attending to his every need.  Not that they would agree nor accept this accolade as they are ever so humble and unassuming people.

The frightfully tragic news reached me the day after Mother’s Day 2011 when Hillivi called and it took a couple of minutes before I could understand her distraught message that Shamus had died.  It was the last thing I was expecting to hear especially as he had been making such great progress.  I cannot even begin to imagine how his parents are feeling at this time and my heart hurts for them.

THE ART OF CYCLING

It is comforting to hear Cycling SA executive director Max Stevens suggestion to strike a new medal in honor of Shamus Liptrot, who in his words were inspirational, dedicated and committed.  If the world press is anything to go by, he certainly made his mark across the globe as his tragic death is reported even as far away as Sweden.

I know people mean well when they say that God needed another angel up there in heaven, but I cannot get the words of Nicole Kidman’s character in Rabbit Hole out of my mind, who said;

“If God needed another angel – why didn’t he just make one, he is God after all”

Till next time

Love Marie xxx   (c)

If you would like to read a uplifting art blog about success against all odds with a happy ending here is a link 67. One Amazing Woman & Art

Why not come and have a look at Marie Jonsson-Harrison’s PAINTINGS FOR SALE, GICLEE PRINTS FOR SALEand SCULPTURES for sale or WALLBASED SCULPTURES.  Enjoy an original artwork on your walls or perhaps one on your bed ARTnBED.

This water feature sculpture is one I was commissioned to do for the Balaklava Library (mid-north in South Australia), a few years ago.   I had of course lots of fun designing this sculpture and as I love both the water and books, so it was no stretch.   It is made from hebel and handmade ceramic and mosaic and took hours and hours to complete.

SCULPTURE GARDEN

The mural, water feature sculpture and garden were created in memory of Des Ross in recognition of his service to the local area as well as Australia.  Des was both the President of the Local Government Association as well as the Australian Local Government Assoc., and a board room in Canberra is named “The Des Ross Room” in his honor.   I will tell you more about him another time when I talk about the mural which accompanied this sculpture.

ART AND LOVE OF WATER

My love for the water started early in Sweden when I as a little girl where I used attend “learn to swim” during the summer months and would spend all my available time in the water at Lake Malaren which is the third largest lake in Sweden.  When I think about it I was also rather fond of the yummy freshly baked bun all the children were supplied with (less so of the lukewarm milk that went with it, yuck!)

SWIMMING & PAINTING

When my own children here in Australia went to primary school and I occasionally helped out with the schools swim lessons it was suggested that I may want to get paid as well.  So I went and did the AustSwim course and got my accreditation.  It was a fantastic way of spending some extra time with my kids and also getting out of the art studio, mixing with people and getting paid at the same time.  The swim teachings  grew into 12 weeks of the year and as the hours were 9-3pm I could still get quite a few hours done in the art studio when I got home.  Leading up to exhibitions etc I would even take the paintings to the pool and paint during my lunch time to keep up.

I really enjoyed the company of the other instructors and also found it very satisfying to see the children gain confidence in the water and eventually learn to swim.  My only beef was sometimes when the weather was freezing and we had to spend every lesson in the water, thank god for wet suits I say.  I think that perhaps that is why quite a lot of swimming instructors have a bit of shall we say- extra padding on their bones.  I would look at them with envy as they frolicked in the water whilst my lips were turning blue, lol.

So it was a combination of the cold and the following tale that made me apply for the Instructor in Charge job, where I would be spending more time doing the admin work than in the water.

ARTISTIC INSPIRATIONS

We had a lot of special needs children at the school with various problems and one of them I will call ‘Neville’ who was 16 years old and a big guy with Down’s Syndrome whose party trick was to run out of the changing rooms starkers to the delight and amusement of the other kids who thought it was so funny to see us instructors trying to get him to go back and put his pants on.

Then it was the time when I was in the water and trying to teach him how to swim.  We were playing a shark game – I was chasing him and being the shark, we had lots of fun and were both squealing in delight.  However the tables turned when it was his turn to play shark and he took it absolutely seriously and I nearly drowned in the process.  Lucky for me another instructor noticed the “shark attack” and stopped him.   Lesson learned, Neville just did not realize his own strength, lol.

So here is a thought for all of us from Ramakrishna (mystic) which I like,

“Live like a mud-fish: its skin is bright and shiny even though it lives in the mud.”

Till next time happy painting and sculpting,

Love Marie xxx          (c)

If you would like to see some art blogs about other Public Sculptures here are some links;109 Stories behind the Wall and121 Volunteers our Backbone and  128 Sculpture and Women

Why not come and have a look at Marie Jonsson-Harrison’s PAINTINGS FOR SALE, GICLEE PRINTS FOR SALEand SCULPTURES for sale or WALLBASED SCULPTURES.  Enjoy an original artwork on your walls or perhaps one on your bed ARTnBED.

ARTISTS INSPIRATIONS

There are other things we will miss very much and appreciate about living in the country too.  In this painting called “Collecting Cackleberries” we are of course collecting the eggs, the four of us and every one of our chooks had names, boy they were hard to remember!

Can you imagine sometimes I wrote birthdays cards with everyone of the chooks mentioned by name and not to forget the ducks, parrots cats, dogs and horses, cows and sheep.

That soon wore thin and now only us and the dogs names gets on the cards!

GALLERY  & BALCO ART AWARDS

We were so lucky to have been made so welcome in this little town that is so supportive of the arts as well.

They have the cutest art gallery which used to be the Courthouse, entirely staffed by volunteers where they have exhibitions all year round and also run an art competition called the Balco awards, with entries from artists far and wide, which I have been lucky enough to have won the major ART price one time and minor prizes quite often.

COMMUNITY ARTS

The whole town have come out in support for the different art projects and sculptures and they have a first class theater group called the Balaklava Community Arts.

They put on at least one major show each year such as Oliver, Wizard of Oz and Jesus Christ Superstar, with amateur actors some whom could get a professional gig if they wanted to pursue it further.   It is also so endearing to see the local teachers, shopkeepers and people around town strutting their stuff on the stage!

Our children did most of their schooling here and I think they were very lucky to be able to go to a small country school that was still able to provide nearly all the facilities and support that you get in the city.

However what we valued so much was the personal attention and interest the kids got both from the school and sporting organizations but also from the local community.  Smiling faces and caring people who look out for one another that is something that we will really miss.

FARMING IS AN ART

I am happy too, that we had a chance to experience the farming life (although we had a share farmer do all the heavy work) we understand now the changing of the seasons and the heartbreak when the rain does not fall and you watch your crop whittle and die on the paddock.   I get it now when the farmers complain when the drought sets in and the animals have little to eat, and the devastation when your animals contract a disease, when you have done everything in your power and there is nothing else that you can do.

Whenever I miss you Balaklava, I will try to think of the things I did not care for; such as the flies and dust and the scorching hot days when you can’t even take a breath without burning your oesophagus in 47 degree Celsius heat.

But I bet you my thoughts will center on the laughter of the kids playing and running around our big farm house and yard, how they were chasing after chooks and dogs, and their surprised faces when the rooster turned around and chased them.

How can I forget riding our beautiful horses around the paddocks, rugging, feeding them together with the kids and then taking walks along the river on a moonlit night and seeing the starry sky, so chockablock full of bright stars like nothing would ever prepare you for?

So THANK YOU BALAKLAVA you will be forever in our hearts.

I will have to remember in the coming days this quote by Boethius (statesman and Philosopher)

“Nothing is miserable unless you think it is so”

Till next time happy painting and sculpting, and for you farmers happy farming too

Love Marie xx                                                                                 (c)

Why not come and have a look at Marie Jonsson-Harrison’s PAINTINGS FOR SALE, GICLEE PRINTS FOR SALE and SCULPTURES for sale or WALLBASED SCULPTURES.  Enjoy an original artwork on your walls or perhaps one on your bed ARTnBED.

]]> https://mariejonssonharrison.com.au/41-thank-you-balaklava/feed/ 1